Andes → Galápagos · 12 days
Ecuador Galápagos Tour on Foot
Six days walking the high Andes, from the páramo under Cotopaxi to the Quilotoa Loop, then six days hiking volcanoes and coastal trails in the Galápagos. Lodges and island hotels every night, guides on every trail.
From US$4,390 per person
An Ecuador and Galápagos trip built around walking
Most Ecuador Galápagos tours spend the mainland days in a bus and the island days on a boat. This one is walked. In the Andes you trek through Cotopaxi National Park and along the Quilotoa Loop, village to village, with the altitude built up over several days. In the Galápagos you stay in island towns on Santa Cruz and Isabela and hike the trails: the Sierra Negra caldera, the Wall of Tears, Tortuga Bay and the tortoise highlands.
The two halves fit together well. Six days at 3,000–4,800 m leave you fit and acclimatised, and the islands at sea level then feel easy. For the islands on their own, our sister company Galápagos Land Tours runs cruises and island tours; for the trails in detail, see Galápagos hiking and the Quilotoa Loop trek. If you also want the rainforest, the Andes, Amazon and Galápagos tour adds four days in an Amazon lodge.
Why the Andes come first
We always put the mountains at the start. Arriving from sea level, the first two days in Quito and the hike up Pasochoa prepare your body for the Cotopaxi refuge at 4,864 m. Doing it the other way round, islands first, means flying back up to altitude tired and losing two days to adjusting. The order matters more than any single hike on the list.
Your itinerary
The 12-day Ecuador and Galápagos tour, day by day
Arrival and a slow walk through the old town at 2,850 m. Briefing with your guide and a gear check.
A forest and páramo hike to around 4,200 m on an extinct volcano south of Quito. Night at a hacienda near Cotopaxi National Park.
Walk the Limpiopungo lagoon and the moraine below the glacier, then climb on foot to the José Ribas refuge (4,864 m) for the view. Back down to the hacienda for the night.
Drive west to the Quilotoa crater lake and walk the rim, then descend into the canyon and on to the village of Chugchilán (5–6 hours).
Ridges, farmland and cloud forest to Isinliví, the last stage of the Quilotoa Loop (5–6 hours). Night in a family-run lodge.
A short morning walk, then the drive north along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Free evening in Quito.
Morning flight to the Galápagos. Afternoon in the Santa Cruz highlands: the Los Gemelos sinkholes, lava tunnels and giant tortoises in the wild.
Walk out to Tortuga Bay early, before the heat, then take the afternoon ferry to Isabela.
The longest island day: a guided hike along the rim of the Sierra Negra caldera to the lava fields and fumaroles of Volcán Chico, around 16 km.
Walk or cycle the coastal trail to the Wall of Tears, then visit the Las Tintoreras islets for reef sharks and marine iguanas.
Morning ferry to Santa Cruz and a free afternoon for the beach, snorkelling or the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Transfer to Baltra for the flight back to the mainland and your connection home.
Altitude on the Ecuador and Galápagos tour
The mountain half climbs gradually from Quito to the Cotopaxi refuge, then the islands drop you back to sea level:
- Quito: 2,850 m
- Pasochoa: 4,200 m
- José Ribas refuge: 4,864 m
- Quilotoa rim: 3,914 m
- Sierra Negra rim: 1,124 m
Prices
- 12 days: Andes trek + GalápagosFrom US$4,390
Per person in US dollars, based on 2 travellers sharing. Groups of 4 or more pay less per person; solo travellers pay a supplement. We confirm the exact price for your dates and group. Includes the return flight Quito–Galápagos. The Galápagos park entry ($200) and transit card ($20) are paid separately.
What's included
Included
- ASEGUIM-certified trekking guide in the Andes, licensed naturalist guides in the Galápagos
- Return flight Quito–Galápagos
- Hacienda, village-lodge and island-hotel accommodation (11 nights)
- Private transport in the Andes, ferries and transfers in the islands
- Daily breakfast, trail lunches in the Andes, guided island excursions
Not included
- International flights to and from Quito
- Galápagos National Park entry ($200) and Transit Control Card ($20)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Some dinners, drinks and gratuities
Gear
We arrange
- Guides in the Andes and the islands
- All lodging and island hotels
- Galápagos flights, ferries and transfers
- Park and trail logistics
You bring
- Broken-in hiking boots and light trail shoes
- Warm layers and a rain shell for the Andes
- Sun hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen
- Daypack (25–35 L) and 2 L of water
- Swimwear for the island beaches
Safety on the mountain
- ASEGUIM-certified trekking guides in the Andes
- Licensed Galápagos naturalist guides (national-park rule)
- Altitude built up over five days before the highest point
- Small groups and flexible timing for weather
Ecuador and Galápagos tour FAQ
How much does this Ecuador Galápagos tour cost?
From US$4,390 per person for two travellers sharing, including the return flight from Quito to the Galápagos. The Galápagos park entry ($200) and transit card ($20) are paid separately. Groups of four or more pay less per person, and we confirm the exact price for your dates.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable walking 5–6 hours a day with some steep climbs at altitude. There is no technical climbing and no glacier. The hardest days are the Quilotoa canyon and the 16 km Sierra Negra hike.
Is 12 days enough for an Ecuador and Galápagos vacation?
Twelve days gives six in the Andes and six in the islands, which is enough to trek properly and to see Santa Cruz and Isabela without rushing. With more time we can add San Cristóbal or a few days in the Amazon.
Do we sleep on a boat in the Galápagos?
No. The island half is land-based: you sleep in hotels in Puerto Ayora and Puerto Villamil and travel between the islands by ferry. If you would rather cruise, our sister company Galápagos Land Tours runs cruises.
What is the best time for an Ecuador and Galápagos trip?
June to September is the driest season in the Andes and the cool, calm season in the islands. December to April is warmer in the Galápagos and wetter in the mountains, but still good for walking.
Will I get altitude sickness?
The itinerary is built to avoid it: two days around Quito and the Pasochoa hike come before the Cotopaxi refuge at 4,864 m. Mild headaches on the first days are common; we adjust the pace if anyone needs it.
Plan your Ecuador and Galápagos tour
Tell us your dates and how many of you are travelling. We will confirm availability for the Galápagos flights and island hotels and send a clear, itemised price.